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Complainant suspects crane was used to lift it: Generator stolen from Mini Secretariat, Ludhiana, case registered
The incident has raised questions over how a heavy generator could be removed from the government complex without being detected, particularly if lifting equipment was brought in for the purpose
A generator providing power backup to the regional transport office (RTO) and deputy commissioner’s office was stolen from the Mini Secretariat, with the complainant suspecting that a crane may have been used to lift the heavy equipment from the premises, raising serious questions over security at the high-security government complex.
The theft came to light after Amardeep Singh, a junior assistant at the Ludhiana RTO, reported the matter to police on July 26.
He told investigators that the generator installed outside the RTO office for power backup was missing and suspected that it may have been lifted and removed using a crane.
The Mini Secretariat houses offices of senior officials of the district administration and police department, besides the DC office, RTO and Ludhiana Police Commissionerate.
The theft of a heavy generator from such a complex has raised concerns over the security arrangements at government premises frequented by officials and members of the public.
Division Number 5 police have registered a case against unidentified persons under Section 303(2) (punishment for committing theft) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
According to the complainant, construction work is under way near the parking area of the police commissionerate office.
He suspects that the thieves may have taken advantage of the ongoing work and brought a crane into the complex to lift the generator. With labourers and construction machinery already present at the site, the movement of the crane may not have immediately raised suspicion, he alleged.
The incident has raised questions over how a heavy generator could be removed from the government complex without being detected, particularly if lifting equipment was brought in for the purpose.
ASI Jasvir Singh Rai, the investigating officer, said, “Police have registered a case and are examining the circumstances surrounding the theft. Investigators are also working to identify the suspects and ascertain how the generator was removed from the premises.”
